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Summary: the issues of change and romance are perrrenial
Review: the issues of romance and change are perrenial, only the where and when are different. this is the classic superlative performance by Burt Lancaster, the Count, looking for the future of his family and with romance portrayed with intensity and drama rarely seen. Lessons for us today about facing change, connection to each other and style and grace. if the longer version, with the restored scenes, is contained on the DVD, it may well be one of the best of all time.
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Summary: The superb Leopard
Review: The Leopard is a taut, very well structured study of humans with Burt Lancaster outdoing his own best. Excellent photography. Very difficault but superb direction. This movie could have been dull - IT ISN'T!. I rate this movie in my top 40 movies over the last 70 years. The dialogue is above that of any other movie. A must see, you'll be holding your mental breath on this one.
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Summary: Visconti's magnificent adaptation of the Lampedusa novel
Review: The Leopard is one of the truly great Italian films, one of the most beautiful widescreen films ever made, and arguably Visconti's masterpiece. The story takes place in Sicily during the 1860s and depicts the decline of the aristocracy in light of the changing social and political order during Italy's struggle for unification. Visconti's attention to period detail is nothing short of astounding, and his painterly compositions are truly inspired, and never intrude on the narrative. Burt Lancaster gives his finest, most noble performance as Prince Don Fabrizio of Salina, and Alain Delon is charming as his nephew, Tancredi, whose character represents the transition from the old order to the new. Tancredi's marriage to Angelica (Claudia Cardinale) unites his aristocratic blood with that of the emerging bourgeoisie and thereby closes the gap between the classes. The insightful Don Fabrizio sums up the central point of the story: "If we want everything to remain as it is, it will be necessary for everything to change." A restored special edition of this truly remarkable film is scheduled for release in 2004 by Criterion Collection as a three disc set including both the Italian and American release. The Leopard will finally get the DVD treatment it truly deserves. Copy and paste the following link to view the details of the Criterion DVD: http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=235§ion=synopsis
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Summary: One Of Lancaster's Best Performances!
Review: Luchino Visconti is a director who I admire even if I'm not to fond of a particular film. I may hate the story,but still think he did a wonderful job directing. The same goes with this movie. Here's a movie that's close to 3 hours,and doesn't allow the viewer to feel as if we are "part" of the film ourselves. We never get the chance to really know any of the characters. This is including the title character,who is played brilliantly by Burt Lancaster. Lancaster was truly overlooked for an Oscar nomination he rightfully deserved. Another thing that's kinda hard not to notice besides the wonderful acting is the production and costumes designs. Nino Rota music delighful,but this should come as no suprise to any familar with him. The locations used here are something to set your eyes on as well. And I have to mention Visconti's great directing. He really is one of my favorites. It's for all these reason I have to recommend to movie to everybody! Forget the fact the story doesn't allow too much personal involvement and just watch the simple beauty of the locations and production and costumes designs. A Visconti feast for the eyes for all of us to see.
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Summary: I remember it, you would too....
Review: I saw it twice in Hogg Auditorium at the University of Texas my freshman year (84! ). Since then, it has always haunted me for some reason. I remember the sweeping camera move across the countryside and the villa. Some young man returned from horseback riding, and these dogs the size of ponies galloped up and started playfully slobbering on his expensively costumed arm. I also remember the ballroom scene which lasted forever, but I was fascinated with how real it was. The ball was being thrown in Sicily in the summer. It would have been hot, so Visconti -- with his exacting eye for detail -- had the actors constantly sweating profusely. I do not remember much of the story, but I'll never forget the feel. It was like a time capsule. The details that were captured seemed so authentic that it felt like really going back in time -- not some Hollywood produced caricature of the past. This really was what it was like back then. I have not seen this movie for sixteen years, but every time I get on a movie database, I look for it. It has never been released on video or DVD, but after reading the other reviews, it apparently has had the same impact on other viewers.
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Summary: One of the 5 Most Memorable Films I have seen.
Review: I only saw this film once, in a theatre in N.W. Washington, in1983. The fact that I can remember where I saw this film illustrateshow memorable it is.... to my taste, "Il Gatopardo" ("The Leopard") is more compelling and engrossing, as it operates on more levels than does "Gone with the Wind." During the film, I felt like I was living another life, in another time and place, such was the story telling quality of the film. I also came away from it with the images fresh in my memory from the great cinematography, and my mind stimulated by the many ideas treated in the film. Seeing the movie prompted me to read the Book "The Leopard" by Giuseppi Tomasi di Lampedusa, and I thought the movie had come as close as a movie can to doing justice to this great book. I also went on to read "The Siren and Selected Writings" by the same author, and "The Last Leopard," a biography of di Lampedusa by David Gilmour. Suffice it to say that I have never read "Gone with the Wind," or "Dr. Zhivago." Anyway, I have been searching for a video of this film ever since, and the best I have been able to do until now was get a copy recorded of French T.V., (dubbed in French).... if it does come out on DVD, I will be standing in line. This movie is both memorable and enjoyable, a feast for the eyes, mind, and imagination. If you get a chance to see the film, don't let it pass. In the meantime, I can recommend the books I mentioned.
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Summary: Burt Lancaster's Best Film
Review: Giuseppe Di Lampedusa (who wrote the title novel, only published after his death), Luchino Visconti and Burt Lancaster create together an operatic epic with a personal focus on the title character played magnificently by Lancaster. One of the few films to capture a sense of historical time and individuals living through that time. With many subtle and substantial supporting characters. Acted by, among many others, the youthful Alain Delon and Claudia Cardinale. Moving cinematography and an integral and expressive score by the maestro Nino Rota (with the exception of a waltz by Verdi.) Tired of Tuscany? Spend a few hours in Sicily with The Leopard aka Burt Lancaster.
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Summary: 2ND AFTER GONE WITH THE WIND
Review: THIS ONE OF THE BEST MOVIE EVER ; I DIDN'T SEE THIS MOVIE FOR A WHILE NOW BUT I STILL REMBER THE SCENE WHERE DELON & CARDINALE DANCE THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL ; I CAN STILL HEAR HER SO PARTICULAR VOICE ; THE STORY IS MAGNIFICIENT & THE DIRECTOR DID A WONDERFUL JOB. BRAVO
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Summary: One of the truly great films
Review: This really is one of the greats. The film perhaps goes deeper into what a character thinks, feels and sees, more than any other film in history. The editing, cinematography, music are all second to none. A classic.
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Summary: ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES EVER PRODUCED IN ITALY
Review: I waited for years to see the director's cut of this magnificent movie. In the early 80's, after Visconti's heirs regained possession of the rights to it, they ordered it to be edited according to the master's wishes. I had then the privilege of watching "Il Gattopardo" in a movie theater in all its splendor, exactly as Visconti wanted it to be. Forget the ugly and stupid English-dubbed version that was released before. The true meaning of this movie can only be completely grasped when you see the Italian-spoken version, in spite of a central character, the one played by Burt Lancaster, having to be dubbed in Italian. I hope that when this is released on DVD we get the real thing, with its full lenght and the delightful cinematography by the great Giuseppe Rotunno. Please don't be insensitive to those who love true cinema: give us the real "Il Gattopardo" in its original widescreen format, its entire lenght and the melodious sounds of the original Italian dialogue. And, last but not least, the stunning beauty of the young Claudia Cardinale...
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